Sick joke is condemned

Controversial columnist Katie Hopkins was slammed for appearing to joke about the Camber Sands beach tragedy on Twitter.

Sussex Police branded the Daily Mail writer “extremely insensitive” for the post, in which she made fun of the possible identities of the five victims. The former contender on TV’S The Apprentice posted a poll with the question “5 dead at Camber Sands were…” and four options: aspiring footballer, mentally ill, fans of Anders Breivik or big fans of inflatables.

Other Twitter users reacted angrily, with one reporting it to Sussex Police.

The force replied: “Incredibly insensitive, although not criminal. We suggest reporting her to Twitter. We have already.” The tweet can no longer be seen. Emergency services were called to the beach at 2.10pm, another person was seen in difficulty at 2.20pm.

A third person was recovered 15 minutes later but could not be saved.

Two more bodies were pulled from the water between 8.15pm and 8.45pm.

A search was carried out throughout Wednesday and into Thursday morning after reports a sixth person was still missing but was later stood down.

Police began clearing the beach and three helicopters – two coastguard search and rescue teams from Lydd and Lee-onSolent and the air ambulance – were sent to the beach.

Officers launched an investigation and asked bathers to leave the water while a search for the two men who were still missing was carried out and so they could find the men’s belongings on the beach.

Coastguard rescue teams from Dungeness and Rye Bay joined the RNLI’S crew from Rye Harbour.